Nurses at a number of New York City’s private hospitals are set to go on strike next month, a move that could turn the current “tridemic” into a full-blown crisis.
Hospital sources tell News 4 that the nurses union has notified management at Montefiore and Mt. Sinai of their intention to strike in 10 days, starting Jan. 9. The move follows a ballot box vote to authorize a strike ahead of their contracts expiring on Dec. 31.
(While the association is jointly negotiating a common platform for all its members, the nurses at each of the hospitals have separate contracts, so it is possible one facility could vote for a strike while another does not.)
The New York State Nurses Association has 17,000 members at 12 hospitals subject to that looming expiry. The union says members are upset about staffing ratios at the local hospitals, contract proposals that they feel dramatically worsen their healthcare benefits, and Mayor Eric Adams’ recent move to forcibly hospitalize psychiatric patients.
The union did not immediately comment on reports Friday that nurses were set to strike.
Previously, Mt. Sinai Hospital said that while negotiations “may be noisy and bumpy at times,” they are “committed to negotiating in good faith at all times to ensure fairness and fiscal responsibility” and they are “confident” an agreement will be reached.
Gov. Kathy Hochul’s office has said they are “monitoring the situation.”
All of this comes as the city deals with what is being called a tridemic – simultaneous and serious spikes in infections with COVID, the flu and the respiratory condition RSV.
The city has already issued an advisory (but not a mandate) suggesting that people go back to wearing masks indoors.
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